Results

They decided that Shohei was best situated in Kyourin’s apartment during the test phase. He sat down on the bed, already only wearing pants and a t-shirt in preparation for the hot flashes he’d likely develop. Kyourin was occupied down below, preparing the solution he was about to inject.

It was madness, pure and simple. Shohei had often heard about researchers, who performed illegal procedures, jumping ahead in the process without proper testing. Human experiments were only allowed under strictest guidelines. When these were too strict, people sometimes got creative. Kyourin had been wrong to plan the experiment on himself. Ran had been wrong to offer himself instead. Shohei was wrong by indulging both of their delusions by putting his own life on the line. Even if there were favourable results, they could never be published. No, this was only about one thing: Saving Ran’s life.

The wall swung open and Kyourin appeared with a metal tray. It contained everything he had used for drawing blood… and a filled syringe. He put it down on the nightstand and sat down next to Shohei.

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything. Just do it,” Shohei replied.

Kyourin prepared Shohei’s arm slowly and carefully. He picked up the syringe, but then he hesitated. He looked up at Shohei.

“Are you sure?”

“You don’t get to ask. Do it.”

The burning sensation as the serum flooded his vein was a warning sign in and of itself. Kyourin was so skilled, he didn’t notice the puncture or see the wound afterwards, but the burning remained. He held his arm to his chest.

“Stay with me,” he said.

“Always.”

Shohei huffed a laugh. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

He sat back in the bed, leaning against the headrest. Kyourin cleared away the implements and joined him. Shohei put his head against Kyourin’s shoulder.

“What does it say about me that I still like you?”

“That you have no sense of judgement, no instinct of self-preservation and worst of all, horrible taste,” Kyourin replied.

“Yeah. Sounds about right.”

——

The night was hell. There was no other word for it. The potency of the supplement had been increased, and so had Shohei’s reaction to it. Even with antihistamines and the herbs applied directly to his skin, the reaction was much stronger. Kyourin held him as he shivered in the bath, his skin on fire.

“Your vitals are still good. It’s just a reaction because it’s injected. If it’s only that, it’ll be good for use, since in the tank it’ll be dispersed…”

“I know that,” Shohei said between clenched teeth.

Naked, shivering despite the warm water, with his heart rate shooting through the roof, he had no patience left.

“I know you know. I just want to distract you.”

Shohei laughed and the motion made his ribcage hurt. He clung to Kyourin’s arms so hard he left red marks.

“I’m going to prepare an IV. You probably can’t keep anything down, but you need fluids.”

“Don’t leave me…”

“I won’t. Come on, we’ll get you back into bed.”

Shohei let himself be manipulated like a doll. Washed, dried, examined. He was too tired to do anything else. At least he was still alive. That meant Ran could be helped. He looked at Kyourin, who was hanging up the IV bag.

“Just a few more hours,” Shohei said. “Until you won’t need me anymore.”

“Don’t be stupid. Of course I’ll need you.”

“Mhm.”

The IV was quickly placed. Kyourin checked Shohei’s blood pressure and pulse again. Then he laid down next to Shohei and wrapped himself around him. It was warm. His presence was calming and Shohei sunk into him until he was claimed by painkillers and merciful sleep.

——

“Shohei. Shohei. I need to draw your blood.”

Shohei groaned as he woke up. He rolled his head to see Kyourin prepare the needle. The pain of the puncture shot through him like pleasure. Kyourin filled the vials quickly and wrapped Shohei’s arm in a bandage. The IV was also gone, similarly wrapped.

That was it. He had survived. He was done.

“Come downstairs when you can. I need to run the tests.”

And then he was gone and Shohei was alone. All alone again. Used up. Did it matter that he had given this last part out of his free will? Maybe. Maybe not. Tears flowed freely over his face, dripping into the bedding.

If Ran woke up, there was no room for Shohei anymore. If he didn’t, Kyourin would lose his mind and he couldn’t bear to witness that.

He had to leave.

With shaking legs, Shohei walked over to the desk, where his clothes were piled up. His broken fingers were still bound, so it was a bit of a struggle to dress himself, but he managed in time. He turned to leave, but his feet didn’t move.

Shohei laughed at himself.

“Too pathetic to even leave, huh?”

Kyourin was taking a sample of the tank’s water when Shohei emerged from the doorway. Ran’s eyes were still open, but they were no longer staring aimlessly. He was blinking, trying to focus. Every now and then a finger twitched.

“Shohei…”

The relief in Kyourin’s voice was palpable. Almost believable. Shohei hadn’t been able to run. Might as well believe it.

“It’s working. There’s enough oxygen being delivered. He’s waking up.”

“Good.”

“Shohei…”

“Go ahead. Do what you—”

Kyourin bridged the distance and embraced Shohei and he hated himself for how happy it made him.

“Will you help me prepare the bed?”

“Anything you want,” Shohei said and meant it.

Kyourin hesitated a moment, then turned away to return to the lab area. There was a hospital bed in the corner of the room. He wheeled it to the tank, setting up the other machines around it. He was no doctor, but he had basic knowledge, even if it was mostly to do with the animals they had used for testing. Enough to know where everything went, at least.

Now he could only wait and pray.